Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

NANDROLONE 3-(O-CARBOXYMETHYL)OXIME

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

A hormone similar to testosterone but with anabolic effects more pronounced than its
androgenic properties. Given in conjunction with an adequate diet for conditions
characterised by protein loss and bone wasting. Used as adjunctive therapy for
osteoporosis. Intermediate

SYNONYMS

C21-H30-N-O4, C21-H30-N-O4, "19-nor-testosterone 3-(o-carboxymethyl)oxime", "19-nor-
testosterone 3-(o-carboxymethyl)oxime", "anabolic steroid androgen"

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

May form explosive peroxides.
Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long- term adverse effects in the
aquatic environment.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be damaging to the health of the individual.  The anabolic steroids produce the adverse effects exhibited by androgens but generally produce lessened masculinizing effects, especially in women.  Androgens can cause increased bone mass, blood concentrations of nitrogen, sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphates, water retention and swelling, and blood vessel growth in the skin. They may cause premature closure of growth plates in early puberty causing reduced height. Obstructive jaundice and abnormal liver function may result. Allergic reactions which affect the skin ar also present. Large doses can permanently reduce the production of sperm in males. In women, androgens affect the pituitary gland and inhibit menstruation and the production of female sex hormones. Prolonged administration of large doses can cause masculinization with hair growth, deep voice, atrophy of breast and endometrial tissue, acne, blackheads, and an enlarged clitoris. Sexual desire is increased, but milk production is reduced.  

EYE

  Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may cause transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn). Slight abrasive damage may also result. The material may produce foreign body irritation in certain individuals.  

SKIN

  The material is not thought to be a skin irritant (as classified using animal models). Abrasive damage however, may result from prolonged exposures. Good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Skin contact with the material may damage the health of the individual; systemic effects may result following absorption.  Entry into the blood-stream, through, for example, cuts, abrasions or lesions, may produce systemic injury with harmful effects. Examine the skin prior to the use of the material and ensure that any external damage is suitably protected.  

INHALED

  Inhalation may produce health damage*.  The material is not thought to produce respiratory irritation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless inhalation of dusts, or fume, especially for prolonged periods, may produce respiratory discomfort and occasionally, distress.  Inhalation of dusts, generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may be damaging to the health of the individual.  Persons with impaired respiratory function, airway diseases and conditions such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, may incur further disability if excessive concentrations of particulate are inhaled.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  There has been some concern that this material can cause cancer or mutations but there is not enough data to make an assessment.  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  There is some evidence that human exposure to the material may result in developmental toxicity. This evidence is based on animal studies where effects have been observed in the absence of marked maternal toxicity, or at around the same dose levels as other toxic effects but which are not secondary non-specific consequences of the other toxic effects.  There are generally two types of oximes: ketoximes derived from ketones and aldoximes derived form aldehydes. Several ketoximes (p-quinone dioxime, acetoxime and methyl ethyl ketoxime) have elicited carcinogenic effects on chronic exposure. Few substantive studies have been performed with aldoximes. The fact that aldoximes can be metabolised to cyanide via a pathway not applicable to ketoximes distinguishes the type of response which might be anticipated. Dehydration of aldoximes to produce nitriles has been shown to be catalysed in vitro by cytochrome P450; dehydration of ketoximes produces amides, rather than nitriles, via a Beckmann rearrangement but this apparently has no analogue in biological systems.  The mechanism and toxicity of oximes to erythrocytes is recognised and might be attributed to hydroxylamine, a product of hydrolysis. Hydroxylamine produces haematologic effects such as methaemoglobinaemia and splenomegaly in mice similar to those observed after exposure to oximes such as butanal oxime. Studies demonstrated the formation of haeme-associated free radicals in erythrocytes exposed to hydroxylamine, leading ultimately to peroxidation of membrane lipids. Lipid peroxidation in cellular membranes may produce several morphological alterations resulting, for example, in membrane aggregation, deformation or breakage. This may result in the release of hydrolytic enzymes which in turn may degrade functional macromolecules and cause secondary damage. In addition membrane-bound enzyme systems may be disrupted. Levels of hydroxylamine produced as a result of hydrolysis are thought to be too low to produce another sign of hydroxylamine toxicity, namely the formation of Heinz bodies  Oximes are not easily oxidised at near neutral conditions and hydrolysis by liver microsomes or S9 is hypothesised (however this conclusion was based on the formation of a ketone rather than hydroxylamine). Another possibility is that oximes are oxidatively metabolised to yield a ketone or aldehyde and some yet to be determined nitrogen-  containing species. Cytochrome P450 appears to provide a source of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide which catalyses oxidation in the presence of iron. At least part of the nitrogen in the oxime is converted to nitric oxide which complexes with haeme to give a nitrosylhaemoglobin complex.  Nandrolone may cause cholestatic jaundice, virilisation, oedema, congestive heart failure,  iron deficiency anaemia, hypercalcaemia, muscle cramps, gastrointestinal disturbances, retention of fluids, excitation, chills and toxic confusion. Chronic effects of exposure include peliosis hepatitis and blood lipid changes.  Exposure to the material for prolonged periods may cause physical defects in the developing embryo (teratogenesis).